Fire and Ice

Part 3: Frustrations

(Wanda)

"What do you mean, something was following her?" I followed the sound of Natasha's scoffing disbelief as she made her way through the compound, heading towards the kitchen.

"I mean it, Natasha. I sensed something behind her. Behind us." Natasha spun around, a fresh water bottle in her hand, looking me up and down before shrugging her shoulders.

"No offense, witchy, but you weren't the spy." I sighed and threw my hands in the air.

"Natasha, I can read people's minds. There was something there, and it was coming right towards her." I leaned against the counter, rubbing my face with my hands. I wasn't crazy. I know exactly what I felt, I just didn't know how to explain it in a way that would make Natasha believe it. I hated the smirk of amusement on her face. At the same time, however, I wanted to kiss it hard enough to wipe it off her face for the next few hours, at least.

"You were in a public park, Wanda!" Natasha always went from 0 to 60, and she was getting frustrated quickly. I sighed and backed down.

"Fine, you're probably right." I stood up, grabbing a water bottle and headed out the door.

"Where are you going?" Natasha's voice was softer now.

"I need to go to bed," I grumbled.

"Are you coming by later?" There was hope in her voice now. I paused in the doorway momentarily, but fought the urge to turn around.

"I'm going to sleep." I left her standing behind me before she could respond.

Several hours later, I felt my mattress dip as someone crawled into bed beside me. Natasha's cold hand ran under the hem of my tshirt that I always wore to bed. Her hands moved in slow circles over my stomach, my side and began traveling upwards towards my chest. I spun around in bed, finding her green eyes staring at me hungrily. "I missed you," she whispered. I rolled my eyes but smashed my lips to hers, our tongues immediately struggling for control. I pulled back, gasping for air before noticing the cut on her forehead.

"Tasha, what happened?" I traced my fingers over the cut lightly. Natasha immediately pulled out of my reach, sitting up on the bed and reaching for her pajama bottoms she had dropped over the side before getting in.

"Forget it, it's fine." Her voice was low, bitter sounding.

"Come on, Tasha, let me see it," I moved towards her, reaching for her hand but she pulled it away before I could make contact.

"I'm going to go train," she announced, pulling her hoodie back over her head, opening the door to my room and closing it softly behind her. I sighed, flopping onto my back on the bed, taking a deep breath. I was angry, I was frustrated and I was worked up. That's typical Natasha for you. I turned onto my side, my curls framing my face on the pillow. I closed my eyes, but all I could see when I did so was Briar's face. Well, that's interesting.

(Briar)

Two nights later, I saw the witch in one of my favorite bars. I smirked, sliding onto the seat beside her, clearing my throat as I leaned against the bar. "Good evening, Ms. Maximoff," I smiled. She looked up at me, her green eyes blurry. I raised my eyebrow, looking down at the drink in front of her – or what used to be a drink. It was nearly gone, swirling around a single ice cube at the bottom of the glass. "You okay?" She leaned on her hand and smiled wide at me.

"Hi there," she slurred, brushing a hand on my shoulder. "I know you, kinda!" I smiled and moved her hand off of my shoulder back to the bar, concerned for her sense of balance.

"I'm Briar," I said, introducing myself. She took my offered hand, shaking it solemnly but then not letting it go, resting her palm over my hand on top of the counter. "Are you doing okay...Wanda?" She smiled as I used her first name.

"I feel great!" Her voice was louder than she probably intended.

"Can I call you a cab, or..." my voice trailed off as I caught her staring at me, her bottom lip caught in her teeth.

"You could take me home," she said softly. I smirked.

"Ms. Maximoff, I'm shocked," I teased her. She frowned, taking me seriously for a moment before a wide smile broke on her face and she smacked me lightly on the shoulder.

"Do you want me to take you back to the compound?" She shook her head vehemently.

"No, not there," I frowned.

"Is everything okay, Wanda?" She stared at the bar before looking back at me.

"Oh, it's fine – just had a bit of an argument with someone," she waved her hand dismissively. I nodded.

"I've got a spare room, you can sleep it off there," I offered, climbing to my feet. She smiled at me.

"You're so sweet." I blushed, wrapping an arm carefully around her shoulder as I led her out of the bar. Thankfully I only lived a block away. We stumbled together into my building, she leaned on me in the elevator, and by the time we made it to my apartment door, I was practically carrying her. I guided her through the door to the guest room, laying her down carefully on the bed. She looked up at me and made grabby hands. "C'mere," she slurred. I grinned but shook my head.

"Not tonight," I said softly, setting a glass of water on the bedside table next to her head. I tucked a stray strand of hair out of her face behind her ear, and she looked up at me, a sleepy smile on her face.

"Gnight," she mumbled. I turned out the lamp beside her and backed slowly out of the room, leaving the door cracked behind me.

When I woke the next morning without the pounding headache I had been dreading and found the door to the guest room ajar, I stumbled into the living room to find Wanda clutching her shoes to her chest as she tried to sneak out of the front door. I leaned against the door jam to the living room, looking at her long, tanned legs, her oversized t-shirt (was that my shirt?) that she pulled on over her clothes from the night before.

"Going somewhere?" She spun around and shrieked loudly, dropping her shoes and her phone. Instinctively, I reached out, catching them with a cloud of air, lifting them back towards her hands. Her eyes went wide.

"Am I still drunk, or..." her voice trailed off as she collected her belongings tightly to her chest, staring up at me. I smiled slightly.

"Sorry, force of habit," I mumbled, suddenly embarrassed. I was surprised when suddenly Wanda's hands were on my shoulders, her shoes and phone tossed hastily on the couch, staring directly into my eyes.

"That was so cool!" She smiled. I couldn't help but smile back, while blushing. "You're like a cloud person?" I laughed at her characterization.

"Not exactly," I grinned. I could see her forming questions in her mind and I held my hands up. "I'll explain it to you sometime, but you looked like you were going somewhere?" She looked around, suddenly shaking her head and coming back into the present.

"Oh yeah, sorry! I need to get back to the compound," she collected her belongings again and looked up at me expectantly. "Want to grab coffee tomorrow?" I smiled and gave her my cell number so she could text me later. I walked over to her, standing in the doorway as she turned to face me one more time. "Thank you, for last night." She said softly, a smile tracing across her face. I returned it.

"My pleasure, Ms. Maximoff."